EKTA and
Friends of South Asia, in
coalition with an array of organizations including many groups of the
South Asian diaspora are organizing a fundraiser that will benefit
earthquake survivors on both sides of the border. The fundraiser will
take place November 19th, 2005, at the Wheeler Auditorium
on the UC Berkeley campus.

Today, on
the first monthly anniversary
of the quake we note with urgency that many survivors in remote areas
are still in need of immediate treatment and evacuation. There is
also a desperate need to provide shelter and a massive second wave of
death is expected if efforts aren't stepped up to help the three
million made homeless by the earthquake and who face the fierce
Himalayan winter without any form of shelter. We hope to bring
attention to the continuing need for assistance and solicit the
support of the wider community in raising funds towards relief and
rehabilitation.

We
note with regret that the urgently
needed co-operation between the Indian and Pakistani Governments
continues to be compromised by their unwillingness to set the
desperate need for relief and the well-being of the survivors above
their mutual suspicion and political manoeuvring. In contrast, the
organization of this event, where Indian and Pakistani groups are
working together, illustrates how differences of national origin or
religious affiliation can be rendered irrelevant in the face of a
recognition of our common humanity. We hope that coalitions such as
ours illustrate the will for peace that exists among the common
peoples of India and Pakistan.

All
proceeds will be split, (in
proportion to the need),
between the Association for the Development of Pakistan (http://www.developpakistan.org)
and the Association for India's Development
(http://www.aidindia.org)
that are working with groups engaged in relief and rehabilitation
efforts on the ground in Pakistan and India and are committed to an
equal and just distribution of resources among marginalized and
deprived communities, irrespective of biases of gender, class or
religion. For more information about the event, including artist
bios, co-sponsor information, to purchase tickets and to make
donations visit: http://ektaonline.org/beyondborders/